Get a whole year of cutting-edge eco-building news for just £24.00 pa.
Built upon 30 years of experience, this fabulous new medium will feature inspiring and in-depth articles on eco-building projects from across the spectrum and from all over the UK, most of which are written by the very people that designed or built them. Perfect for architects, builders, developers, self builders and anyone interested in keeping right up-to-date with green building trends and friends.
For subscription options:
please go here
|
|
|
School bike shed generates electricity |
|
 
|
|
|
|
27 Oct 2009, 6:35 PM
|
A new £20,000 bike shed at a Highlands primary school doesn't just keep the cycles dry, the structure is also capable of generating "green energy". The shelter at Acharacle school in Wester Ross has solar panels on the roof to help provide classrooms with renewable energy. The bike shed is one of 32 solar schemes Highland Council is rolling out, mainly at schools, before next April - at a cost of £450,000.
|
Michael Foxley, chairman of the authority's climate change working group, said he hoped the project would succeed in being a practical demonstration of harnessing renewable energy. He said: "As a council we are making significant progress in the energy management of our buildings which is especially important given the rise in energy bills. I am sure the new solar shed will prove to be a big hit with the young cyclists and will play an important part in cutting down the amount of energy used in the school building."
Scotland’s first wholly sustainable school is home to 48 English and Gaelic Medium primary school pupils and 14 English and Gaelic Medium nursery school pupils.
Acharacle is so well insulated and draught-proof (‘air-tight’) that the heat from the children, staff and computers is enough to heat the building. All internal materials are organic, i.e. untreated timber, linoleum, clay plaster and vegetable-based paints.
The structure of the building (walls and roofs) is made from ‘Brettstapel’ - a form of glue-free massive timber construction. The use of one tonne of this material instead of concrete saves as much CO2 as taking a car off the road for nearly five months. Brettstapel is used as the internal finish for many parts of the school. Being wood, it has a warm feel and appearance. Classroom and hall ceilings have an ‘acoustic profile’ to improve the acoustic performance of these rooms.
Most of the school is made from wood: the structure is solid wood, the insulation is wood, and the building is clad in durable European larch. There is a wind turbine on the hill behind the school to provide electricity, while rainwater is being collected from the copper roofs and will be used to flush the toilets. Electricity consumption is significantly reduced through the use of large triple-glazed windows for daylighting, and by using very energy efficient appliances.
|
|
|
|
